Vapor-lamp buhner



c. M. ALEXANDER.

"LampL No. 24,529. Patented June 28, 1859.

IE sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

C. M. ALEXANDER, OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA.

VAPOR-LAMP BURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,529, dated June 28, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, C. M. ALEXANDER, of New Albany, in the county of Floyd and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Generating Fluid Lamps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanving drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in the employment of .a retort so constructed that when placed above a flame it will collect and concentrate the rays of heat from said flame, passing them out through an aperture in the top of the retort substantially as will be hereinafter described.

In the annexed drawings Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the retort. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the retort. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of the retort.

In the figures a, and 0, represent two hollow frusta of cones, one of which is surrounded with a flange, 2', at its bottom and the other with a flange, 00, at its top. These two frusta are connected together as shown in the drawings Fig. 1, (one being larger than the other) in such a manner that there will be space left between them all around as will be clearly seen. These frusta may be secured together by means of a screw and nut, or they may be hard soldered together. The latter plan, I think, is most practical. lVhen these frusta are secured together in the manner described they form a retort with inclined or converging sides.

A, represents the pipe for conducting the fluid to the retort, and .13, represents the pipe for conducting the gas formed in it to the burner F, where it is consumed.

The burner F, it will be seen, stands directly under the retort, so that the rays of heat from the flame of the burner, as they ascend, will be collected and concentrated by the converging sides of the retort, and

passed out at the top, through the chimney D. The heating surface obtained by this arrangement is very greatfro-m ten to twenty (and even more) square inches of surface is thus obtained, according to the size of the frustrums, and all or a greater portion of the heat arising from the flame is employed in forming, purifying, and rendering the vapor more combustible.

I do not propose to confine myself to the exact shape herein shown, as the frusta may be pressed nearly flat and still the sides of the retort be converging.

I am aware that a conical cup has been placed around a retort, for the purpose of retaining heat, but there being no draft through the apex of the cone the cup retained a dead heat, while the lively heat of the flame passed around it; and then, this cup was not made double and did not come in contact with the fluid or gas. The em ployment of such a cup is clearly unphilosophical, as it can never answer the purpose for which it was designed.

In my retort no dead heat is found, as the draft through the apex allows the hot air to arise after it has exerted its influence on the sides of the retort and pass away, and then the retort being double, the gas is ex posed to the heat of two extended surfaces and is thus prepared for a very complete combustion.

Having thus fully described my invention I claim- The combination of a retort having converging sides, and constructed substantially in the manner herein set forth, with an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe and a burner, for the purpose of forming a gas generating apparatus to be used in connection with fluid lamps, as is herein fully described.

C. M. ALEXANDER.

W'itnesses:

T. H. ALEXANDER, A. A. YEATMAN. 

